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Trump said he intends "to do everything" in his power to help forge a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians.</div><br><div style="font-family: sans-serif;">The immediate grounds for Trump's announcement was the expiration of the latest six-month waiver delaying relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.</div><br><div style="font-family: sans-serif;">The 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act requires the US government to establish an embassy in Jerusalem, but allows the president to delay doing so by signing a waiver every six months. The waiver spares the state department financial penalties for failing to comply with the law.</div><br><div style="font-family: sans-serif;">Presidents Bush and Obama signed the waiver twice per year with little fanfare. However, Trump has long hinted he would deviate from his predecessors.</div><br><br><br><div><br></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/Z5KOuMokjC4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/Z5KOuMokjC4/donald-trump-recognises-jerusalem-as.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/12/donald-trump-recognises-jerusalem-as.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-5728612142869389545Fri, 24 Nov 2017 16:20:00 +00002017-11-24T17:21:02.301+01:00APCatikuAtiku AbubakarEl RufaiPDPAtiku: It is a good thing he left, El-Rufai says<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gpaVFY_WmWU/WhhG2_ddQ0I/AAAAAAAADSI/PT2Cmgpw5zsa-Rl9CgTJSbLdwK6_SvggQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="177"><b><u><br></u></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b><u>Governor</u></b><b> </b><b>Nasir</b><b> </b><b>El-Rufai</b><b> </b><b>of</b><b> </b><b>Kaduna</b><b> </b><b>state</b><b> </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>reacted</b><b> </b><b>to</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>resignation</b><b> </b><b>of</b><b> </b><b>Former</b><b> </b><b>vice</b><b> president </b><b>Atiku</b><b> </b><b>Abubakar</b><b>'</b><b>s</b><b> </b><b>from</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>All</b><b> </b><b>Progressives</b><b> </b><b>Congress</b><b> (</b><b>APC</b><b>), </b><b>saying</b><b> </b><b>it</b><b> </b><b>was</b><b> </b><b>a</b><b> </b><b>good</b><b> </b><b>thing</b><b> </b><b>for</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>party</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">He also added that the party (APC) already knew Atiku will leave.</p><p dir="ltr"><i><b>READ ALSO&gt;&gt;</b></i><i><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/atiku-dumps-apc.html">Atiku dumps APC</a></b></i></p><p dir="ltr">He said if given the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, the former Vice-President is not a threat to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.</p><p dir="ltr"><b>READ ALSO&gt;&gt;</b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/pdp-to-atiku-you-are-now-free-man.html"><b>PDP to Atiku:You are now a free man</b></a></p><p dir="ltr">El -rufai said these in an interview with State House correspondents after joining Buhari in observing juma ’at at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.</p><p dir="ltr">He described Atiku as a serial defector and presidential aspirant, saying no governor will leave the party with him</p><p dir="ltr"><i><b>Download</b></i><i><b> </b></i><i><b>our</b></i><i><b> </b></i><i><b>android</b></i><i><b> </b></i><i><b>app</b></i><i><b> </b></i><i><b>for</b></i><i><b> </b></i><i><b>quick</b></i><i><b> </b></i><i><b>updates</b></i><i><b>. </b></i><i><b>C</b></i><i><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/p/download-our-android-app.html">LICK</a></b></i><i><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/p/download-our-android-app.html"> HERE</a></b></i></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/b-hEq76cu_c" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/b-hEq76cu_c/atiku-it-is-good-thing-he-left-el-rufai.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/atiku-it-is-good-thing-he-left-el-rufai.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-1724624798134754184Fri, 24 Nov 2017 13:17:00 +00002017-11-24T14:22:24.737+01:00APCAPGAWillie ObianoI will not leave APGA for APC, Gov Obiano insists<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O77qi4kcfRY/WhgdAvt-ZhI/AAAAAAAADR4/31zk77PAKr4VE7f7JWa6P7kAYAqpzshaACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="262"><br></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Governor Willie Obiano have, on </b><b>Friday</b><b>, waved off rumours of him dumping the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) of President Muhammadu Buhari.</b></p><p dir="ltr">He insisted he would never leave the party on which platform he contested and won governorship seat two times.</p><p dir="ltr">Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Anambra state Chief Executive said,"No. Never. That is totally unfounded. I will never leave APGA. I’m the leader and the BoT chairman of APGA and again by God ’s grace the governor and governor-elect,” he declared.</p><p dir="ltr">The governor described APGA as a very strong party in the South East , saying Nigerians will see more proofs in coming elections.</p><p dir="ltr">When asked about his relationship with his predecessor, Peter Obi, he said he had no problem with anybody.</p><p dir="ltr">When also asked if he will woo the son of Chief Emeka Ojukwu who left the party back into the fold, Obiano said, “He is of no consequence , I am sorry to say.”</p><p dir="ltr">He, however, said he had extended olive branch to his co-contestants, saying that all of them have congratulated him.</p><p dir="ltr">He said individuals’ ambitions could not be greater that the interest of the state.<br><br><br><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/9M1u2NZBNSk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/9M1u2NZBNSk/i-will-not-leave-apga-for-apc-gov.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/i-will-not-leave-apga-for-apc-gov.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-1455258964877285481Fri, 24 Nov 2017 13:06:00 +00002017-11-24T14:21:18.237+01:00APCatikuAtiku AbubakarNigeriaPDPPDP to Atiku: You are now a free man<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5La7H8FLPK8/WhgcxvKnvLI/AAAAAAAADR0/sHtsowRnjuQ0lC4OzOTNH_wRVBEIAScvgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="187"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>The opposition, People's Democratic Party (PDP) have described former Vice president Atiku Abubakar as a free man following his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Party (APC)</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">Alhaji Atiku Abubakar have, earlier today, <a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/atiku-dumps-apc.html?m=1">resigned from the APC, in a statement he personally signed.</a></p><p dir="ltr">However, the PDP, have said that the former member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP had seen the light, which it said necessitated his leaving the APC.</p><p dir="ltr">The former ruling party also called on other members in the APC to leave , saying the day the ruling party was formed “ remains a dark day in the history of Nigeria .”<br><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/hb9ml8DrIFQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/hb9ml8DrIFQ/pdp-to-atiku-you-are-now-free-man.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/pdp-to-atiku-you-are-now-free-man.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-5582145344254404498Fri, 24 Nov 2017 12:54:00 +00002017-11-24T13:56:13.946+01:00APCatikuAtiku AbubakarNigeriaPDPAtiku dumps APC<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZktPGDzsEIs/WhgW5m2GDwI/AAAAAAAADRk/auodailin_YqBp4FiHt3ffhtEcrfvd6sQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="203"><b><u><br></u></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b><u>Former</u></b><b> </b><b>Vice</b><b> </b><b>President</b><b>, </b><b>and</b><b> </b><b>a</b><b> </b><b>chieftain</b><b>, </b><b>Atiku</b><b> </b><b>Abubakar</b><b> </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>dumped</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>ruling</b><b> </b><b>All</b><b> </b><b>Progressives</b><b> </b><b>Congress</b><b> (</b><b>APC</b><b>).</b></p><p dir="ltr">In a statement, Atiku, the former deputy to Ex president Olusegun Obasanjo, which he personally signed, recalled how he joined the ruling party in 2013.</p><p dir="ltr">Below is the statement:</p><p dir="ltr">“On the 19 th of December, 2013 , I received members of the All Progressives Congress at my house in Abuja. They had come to appeal to me to join their party after my party, the Peoples Democratic Party, had become factionalized as a result of the special convention of August 31 , 2013.</p><p dir="ltr">“The fractionalization of the Peoples Democratic Party on August 31 , 2013 had left me in a situation where I was , with several other loyal party members , in limbo , not knowing which of the parallel executives of the party was the legitimate leadership.</p><p dir="ltr">“It was under this cloud that members of the APC made the appeal to me to join their party, with the promise that the injustices and failure to abide by its own constitution which had dogged the then PDP, would not be replicated in the APC and with the assurance that the vision other founding fathers and I had for the PDP could be actualized through the All Progressives Congress.</p><p dir="ltr">“It was on the basis of this invitation and the assurances made to me that I, being party-less at that time, due to the fractionalization of my party, accepted on February 2, 2014, the hand of fellowship given to me by the All Progressives Congress.</p><p dir="ltr">“On that day, I said,‘it is the struggle for democracy and constitutionalism and service to my country and my people that are driving my choice and my decision” to accept the invitation to join the All Progressives Congress.</p><p dir="ltr">“Like you , I said that because I believed that we had finally seen the beginnings of the rebirth of the new Nigeria of our dreams which would work for all of us, old and young.</p><p dir="ltr">“However, events of the intervening years have shown that like any other human and like many other Nigerians, I was fallible.</p><p dir="ltr">“While other parties have purged themselves of the arbitrariness and unconstitutionality that led to fractionalization, the All Progressives Congress has adopted those same practices and even gone beyond them to institute a regime of a draconian clampdown on all forms of democracy within the party and the government it produced.</p><p dir="ltr">“Only last year, a governor produced by the party wrote a secret memorandum to the president which ended up being leaked. In that memo, he admitted that the All Progressives Congress had ‘not only failed to manage expectations of a populace that expected overnight ‘change’ but has failed to deliver even mundane matters of governance’.</p><p dir="ltr">“Of the party itself, that same governor said ‘Mr. President, Sir Your relationship with the national leadership of the party, both the formal (NWC ) and informal (Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso) , and former Governors of ANPP, PDP (that joined us) and ACN, is perceived by most observers to be at best frosty. Many of them are aggrieved due to what they consider total absence of consultations with them on your part and those you have assigned such duties.'</p><p dir="ltr">“Since that memorandum was written up until today, nothing has been done to reverse the treatment meted out to those of us invited to join the All Progressives Congress on the strength of a promise that has proven to be false. If anything, those behaviours have actually worsened.</p><p dir="ltr">“But more importantly , the party we put in place has failed and continues to fail our people, especially our young people . How can we have a federal cabinet without even one single youth.</p><p dir="ltr">“A party that does not take the youth into account is a dying party. The future belongs to young people.</p><p dir="ltr">“I admit that I and others who accepted the invitation to join the APC were eager to make positive changes for our country that we fell for a mirage. Can you blame us for wanting to put a speedy end to the sufferings of the masses of our people ?”</p><p dir="ltr">He stated,“After due consultation with my God, my family, my supporters and the Nigerian people whom I meet in all walks of life Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa” has resigned from the APC.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/Hj-99DYgb-A" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/Hj-99DYgb-A/atiku-dumps-apc.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/atiku-dumps-apc.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-4522029370211201317Tue, 21 Nov 2017 16:16:00 +00002017-12-03T22:19:40.763+01:00Robert MugabeZimbabwePresident Robert Mugabe resigns<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_hIEGiQCcHE/WhRR5ZdhvdI/AAAAAAAADRQ/s1s_sClV9BIlv0Rt054ZXsnCunprxscrQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="240"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe have resigned, ending 37 years ruling the South Eastern African nation.</b></p><p dir="ltr">His resignation was announced by Zimbabwean Parliamentary speaker, Jacob Mudenda, who informed lawmakers of it in a letter written to them by the 93-year-old former president.</p><p dir="ltr">"I Robert Gabriel Mugabe in terms of section 96 of the constitution of Zimbabwe hereby formally tender my resignation… with immediate effect,” said speaker Mudenda, reading the letter.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/yLfNqsdTqJE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/yLfNqsdTqJE/breaking-news-president-robert-mugabe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/breaking-news-president-robert-mugabe.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-2035742753960769920Mon, 20 Nov 2017 06:29:00 +00002017-11-20T07:32:07.986+01:00Alex EkwuemeNigeriaDr Alex Ekwueme is dead, family confirms<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-snlM4lkbFAA/WhJ2XL8z1vI/AAAAAAAADRA/z5BAXXZ7SQA0KTv5V2KwOMt7hlKOlT0RACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="250" height="278"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Nigeria's</b><b> </b><b>former</b><b> </b><b>vice</b><b> president, </b><b>Dr</b><b> </b><b>Alex</b><b> </b><b>Ekwueme</b><b>, </b><b>is</b><b> </b><b>dead</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, who was deputy to former president Alhaji Shehu Shagari between 1979 and 1989, died on Sunday in a London clinic, United Kingdom.</p><p dir="ltr">Ekwueme had slumped in his Enugu residence after which he was flown to London in an air ambulance last week.</p><p dir="ltr">A statement from his family signed by his brother and the traditional ruler of Oko in Anambra State, Igwe Laz Ekwueme said that he died by 10:00pm in a London clinic, Sunday.</p><p dir="ltr">The statement read: “Ekwueme family regrets to announce the peaceful passing away of their patriarch, the former Vice-President of the<br>Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme GCON.</p><p dir="ltr">“The sad event occurred at the London Clinic at 10:00 pm on Sunday 19th November 2 2017."</p><p dir="ltr">May his soul rest in peace.<br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/R-hOhXlvziM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/R-hOhXlvziM/dr-alex-ekwueme-is-dead-family-confirms.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/dr-alex-ekwueme-is-dead-family-confirms.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-2440923174891398592Sun, 19 Nov 2017 15:58:00 +00002017-11-19T16:59:39.941+01:00AnambraAnambra DecidesAPCAPGAPDPWillie Obiano#AnambraDecides: Dr. Willie Obiano retains Governorship seat, trouncing opponents in big win<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AuUwypFXr4o/WhGqZcF_T_I/AAAAAAAADQs/mvLA7j51ywQ1jias3z2TmgLV9tnR3ESYQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="239"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Candidate </b><b>of</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>All</b><b> </b><b>Progressives</b><b> </b><b>Grand</b><b> </b><b>Alliance</b><b> (</b><b>APGA</b><b>), </b><b>and</b><b> </b><b>incumbent</b><b> </b><b>Governor</b><b> </b><b>of</b><b> </b><b>Anambra</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b>, </b><b>Dr</b><b> </b><b>Willie</b><b> </b><b>Obiano</b><b>, </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>won</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> 2017 </b><b>Anambra</b><b> </b><b>Governorship</b><b> </b><b>Election</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">Going by results currently been announced, Gov. Obiano is leading his other contenders with wide margin.</p><p dir="ltr">Of the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, results of 18 Local Government Areas have been submitted, out of which Obiano is comfortably leading in all the LGAs.</p><p dir="ltr">What remains now is a formal declaration by the electral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).</p><p dir="ltr"><b>1. Anaocha LGA</b><br>APC 5297<br>APGA 11237<br>PDP 6554</p><p dir="ltr"><b>2. Ayamelum LGA</b><br>APC 5412<br>APGA 14593<br>PDP 2323</p><p dir="ltr"><b>3. Awka South LGA</b><br>APGA 18957<br>APC 6167<br>PDP 5354</p><p dir="ltr"><b>4. Dunukofia LGA</b><br>APC 7016<br>APGA: 8, 575<br>PDP 1530</p><p dir="ltr"><b>5. Njikoka LGA</b><br>APGA 16944<br>APC 5756<br>PDP 3477</p><p dir="ltr"><b>6. Orumba South LGA</b><br>APC 3808<br>APGA 8125<br>PDP 2412</p><p dir="ltr"><b>7. Ekwusigo LGA</b><br>APC 5412<br>APGA 8595<br>PDP 3856</p><p dir="ltr"><b>8. Aguata LGA</b><br>APGA 13167<br>PDP 4073<br>APC 5807</p><p dir="ltr"><b>9. Onitsha North LGA</b><br>PDP 4143<br>APGA 10138<br>APC 3808</p><p dir="ltr"><b>10. Ogbaru LGA</b><br>APC 3415<br>APGA 6615<br>PDP 4416</p><p dir="ltr"><b>11. Idemili South LGA</b><br>APC 4063<br>APGA 5742<br>PDP 2629</p><p dir="ltr"><b>12. Awka North LGA</b><br>ACP 3727<br>APGA 7162<br>PDP 3347</p><p dir="ltr"><b>13. Orumba North LGA</b><br>APGA 8,766<br>APC- 3,551<br>PDP- 3,865</p><p dir="ltr"><b>14. Onitsha South LGA</b><br>APC 2012<br>APGA 7082<br>PDP 3423</p><p dir="ltr"><b>15. Ihiala LGA</b><br>APC 7,894<br>APGA 14,379<br>PDP 4706</p><p dir="ltr"><b>16. Anambra East LGA</b><br>APC 5248<br>APGA 20510<br>PDP 1132</p><p dir="ltr"><b>17. Nnewi South</b><br>APC 2,765<br>APGA 10,465<br>PDP 2,255</p><p dir="ltr"><b>18. Nnewi North</b><br>APC 3616<br>APGA 10845<br>PDP 4157</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/Dz41ruQVdCA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/Dz41ruQVdCA/anambradecides-dr-willie-obiano-retains.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/anambradecides-dr-willie-obiano-retains.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-1756681739460882921Mon, 13 Nov 2017 16:33:00 +00002017-11-13T17:36:32.544+01:00obesityrelationshipStudySingleness is more deadly than obesity, new study shows<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e7iZD-srR5w/WgnJzURF5wI/AAAAAAAADQc/NzTU6uU8lrEdtetwMPE8cwKOuzj6xCGDQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="242"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Loneliness</b><b> </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>been</b><b> </b><b>described</b><b> </b><b>as</b><b> </b><b>deadlier</b><b> </b><b>than</b><b> </b><b>obesity</b><b> </b><b>and</b><b> </b><b>should</b><b> </b><b>be</b><b> </b><b>considered</b><b> </b><b>a</b><b> </b><b>public</b><b> </b><b>health</b><b> </b><b>risk</b><b>, </b><b>experts</b><b> </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>warned</b><b>, </b><b>basing</b><b> </b><b>it</b><b> </b><b>on</b><b> </b><b>a</b><b> </b><b>new</b><b> </b><b>study</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">According to <i><a href="http://www.nypost.com">NYpost</a></i><i><a href="http://www.nypost.com">.</a></i><i><a href="http://www.nypost.com">com</a></i>, Those with bad social connections have a 50 percent increased risk of early death compared to those with good social connections, a review of studies on loneliness suggests.</p><p dir="ltr"><br>Researchers in the US looked at 218 studies into the health effects of loneliness and social isolation.</p><p dir="ltr">They discovered that social isolation raised a person’s risk of death by half compared to obesity, which raised the risk of death by just 30 percent.</p><p dir="ltr">Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, lead author and professor of psychology at Brigham Young University, said: “Being connected to others socially is widely considered a fundamental human need, crucial to both well-being and survival.</p><p dir="ltr">“Extreme examples show infants in custodial care who lack human contact fail to thrive and often die, and indeed, social isolation or solitary confinement has been used as a form of punishment.</p><p dir="ltr">“Yet an increasing portion of the US population now experiences isolation regularly.”</p><p dir="ltr">Feeling lonely is thought to make people feel worse mentally and physically — and those who are lonely tend to suffer worse symptoms when they are unwell than those who aren’t.</p><p dir="ltr">A recent survey by Granset, the over-50s social networking site, found that almost three-quarters of older people in the UK are lonely and most have never spoken to someone about how they feel.</p><p dir="ltr">It also discovered that about 70 percent said their close friends and family would be surprised if they said they were lonely.</p><p dir="ltr">Recent Office of National Statistic stats show Britain is the loneliest country in Europe.</p><p dir="ltr">And, according to the Campaign to End Loneliness, the UK’s loneliness epidemic costs business $26 million per year for the costs associated with health outcomes and sick days.</p><p dir="ltr">Holt-Lunstad added: “There is robust evidence that social isolation and loneliness significantly increase risk for premature mortality, and the magnitude of the risk exceeds that of many leading health indicators.</p><p dir="ltr">“With an increasing aging population, the effect on public health is only anticipated to increase.</p><p dir="ltr">“Indeed, many nations around the world now suggest we are facing a ‘loneliness epidemic.’</p><p dir="ltr">“The challenge we face now is what can be done about it.”</p><p dir="ltr">She suggested greater priority be placed on research and resources to tackle loneliness such as social skills for children in schools.</p><p dir="ltr">Previous research has suggested that solitary adults reported much more severe symptoms when they were unwell.</p><p dir="ltr">A study by Rice University in Texas found that, while they were no more likely to catch a cold, lonely adults felt far worse when they did.</p><p dir="ltr">Experts said GPs should factor in a patient’s social circumstances when treating them.<br><br><br><br><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/_lEcqFIZCrY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/_lEcqFIZCrY/singleness-is-more-deadly-than-obesity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/singleness-is-more-deadly-than-obesity.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-4000422261982188507Mon, 13 Nov 2017 10:34:00 +00002017-11-13T11:43:32.270+01:00BuhariNigeriaOpinionThe Paradox of Untutored Teachers and a Certificate-Less PresidentOpinion: The Paradox of Untutored Teachers and a Certificate-Less President<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DwDiD_b4-So/Wgl3SBkr_GI/AAAAAAAADP8/FHFvJ_adg9sD0K8z7XIMIJgzn0NujbyZgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="179"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Editor's note: A writer and columnist has penned an interesting piece over the controversy surrounding the sacking of over 21,000 teachers by the Kaduna state governor that has rocked the polity in recent times.</b></p><p dir="ltr">I have been following the public reactions to the disclosure of mass failure by the school teachers in Kaduna State. I have watched with incredulity the usual vacuous righteous indignation of hypocrites on our public pedestal. I have been trying to ignore the whole seemingly ridiculous scenario and concentrate on other matters deemed more important.</p><p dir="ltr">But it has been difficult for me to do so. My conscience keeps nagging me and asking why am I trying to miss out on this teaching moment. This teaching moment to point out once again that in the course of building and elevating a polity, it is a dangerous and destructive act to be inconsistent about your moral thermometer. I believe it is an opportunity to underscore the fact that unequal application of standards, moral or any other, would always contribute to general decadence, moral stagnancy and gradual gallivanting into gutterish and gibberish genre of guesstimation of our core values.</p><p dir="ltr">I have listened to the moral hypocrisy of my former "friend" and current Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam El Rufai. His sanctimony has been souring my senses. I have felt repulsed by his selective moral purity and questionable sense of duty to the people of Kaduna State. I marvel at his miasmic amnesia as he mulled his machinations to maul the teachers of the State out of employment.</p><p dir="ltr">I am reminded of his expose on the intellect of Alhaji Mohammadu Buhari as one of the few officers who never passed any military examination in his career. I am reminded of his explanation that Alhaji Buhari never had a PSC after his name like other Army Generals of his generation. I am reminded of his heartfelt plea to Nigerians never to vote for Alhaji Buhari because he (Buhari) did not have what it takes to govern Nigeria.</p><p dir="ltr">Then, fast forward to the days and months leading to the presidential elections of 2015. His volte-face on his opposition to the same Buhari became mind-boggling. Simply because he would benefit from Buhari's installation as president his support became legendary. Knowing fully well as attested to by his previous analysis that Buhari is a congenital failure, El Rufai help brought upon Nigeria the woes of a Buhari Administration.</p><p dir="ltr">This was despite the fact that Buhari could not produce the evidence that he passed or at least sat for the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE). Up till date, despite hiring thirteen Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) he has not been able to convince any court of competent jurisdiction that he had or has any WAEC paper anywhere. Even the dates provided that he (Buhari) attended High School suggested that he began Elementary School in his mother's womb!</p><p dir="ltr">El Rufai and his fellow APC goons told Nigerians that it didn't matter if Buhari had nothing to show to prove that he had minimum qualification for the office of the President. In a manner akin to the odious trivialization of matters of national interest, El Rufai and his co-travelers, either wittingly or not, marketed the idea of a NEPA BILL CERTIFICATE, if held by Buhari, would have been good for Nigeria.</p><p dir="ltr">As a result of desperation for power, the powers - that - be in APC of which El Rufai was more than an eminent and prominent member, facilitated into the Nigerian presidency, a personality that has no qualification to be an unarmed security guard. In their conspiracy against the well being of Nigeria in the name of power politics, they foisted what has come to be regarded as a monumental tragedy on the people of Nigeria.</p><p dir="ltr">Some apologists of this tyrannical administration have been trying to convince us that two wrongs do not make a right.Well, maybe not mathematically. But then, this is why holding the teacher's feet to the fire by El Rufai is a welcome development. But the kind of fire to which their feet are being held by El Rufai is a matter of serious moral issue. It calls to question the issue of justice and equity within the process and before the law.</p><p dir="ltr">If two wrongs do not make a right as "righteously" posited by the apologists of this Buhari administration, then what is good for the goose should be good for the gander. If Buhari, without any certificate, could be in Aso Rock messing up Nigeria, then the Kaduna teachers, no matter how woefully they failed in their tests, deserve to remain on their jobs.</p><p dir="ltr">In the interest of the kids in all Kaduna Schools, it is important that the teachers are held accountable. But such accountability should not include the loss of their jobs. It is my position that the Government of Kaduna State should invest in their re-education and bring them up to par in their capacities. Moreso, these teachers, unlike Mohammadu Buhari, at least have certificates, the quality of such certificates notwithstanding.</p><p dir="ltr">El Rufai has no moral right to take away the jobs of those Kaduna teachers. He is obligated to ensure that they remain in their jobs and receive capacity improvement training. </p><p dir="ltr">His so doing would be part of his atonement for his political sin against Nigeria, a country which he had sacrificed on the altar of expediency and personal exigency.</p><p dir="ltr">"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility - I welcome it.<br>-John F. Kennedy<br></p><p dir="ltr">By: Remi Oyeyemi for SaharaReporters.</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/Hv5TaA2ecR8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/Hv5TaA2ecR8/opinion-paradox-of-untutored-teachers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/opinion-paradox-of-untutored-teachers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-4721716013417171933Mon, 13 Nov 2017 10:26:00 +00002017-11-13T11:43:50.688+01:00Femi Fani-KayodeIPOBNnamdi KanuNigerian Army kidnapped Nnamdi Kanu, Fani-Kayode insists<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tiR6pNGMzXs/Wgl3YQ0hrsI/AAAAAAAADQA/X6C3EV7eKZM0h7IU-ynY_iXiOLTDvbzagCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="211"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Former</b><b> </b><b>Aviation</b><b> </b><b>minister</b><b>, </b><b>Femi</b><b> </b><b>Fani-Kayode</b><b>, </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>insisted</b><b> </b><b>that</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>Nigeria</b><b> </b><b>Army</b><b> </b><b>know</b><b> </b><b>about</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>whereabouts</b><b> </b><b>of</b><b> </b><b>Indigenous</b><b> </b><b>People</b><b> </b><b>of</b><b> </b><b>Biafra</b><b> (</b><b>IPOB</b><b>) </b><b>leader</b><b>, </b><b>Mazi</b><b> </b><b>Nnamdi</b><b> </b><b>Kanu</b><b>, </b><b>because</b><b> </b><b>they</b><b> </b><b>kidnapped</b><b> </b><b>him</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">Writing on his twitter page, the outspoken former minister described the actions of soldiers, who allegedly “abducted” Kanu as “heartless and unacceptable.”</p><p dir="ltr">He wrote: “IPOB leader Nnamdi Nnamdi’s home was attacked, his staff, friends and supporters were slaughtered, his siblings were maimed, his parents were brutalised, his dogs were shot, his cars were burnt and he was abducted by the Nigerian Army. This is heartless and unacceptable.”</p><p dir="ltr">Nnamdi Kanu was last seen or heard from on September 14th after his home was invaded by the Nigerian Army, who has continually denied knowledge of his whereabouts since then.<br><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/n8wINsAvYoo" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/n8wINsAvYoo/nigerian-army-kidnapped-nnamdi-kanu.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/nigerian-army-kidnapped-nnamdi-kanu.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-6826353234443338752Mon, 13 Nov 2017 10:19:00 +00002017-11-13T11:44:21.040+01:00FreezeNigeriareligiontithesUche MaduagwuNigerians will not take you serious till you fix your marriage, Uche Maduagwu advises Freeze<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rq5OUNWaEsA/Wgl3fgdOHEI/AAAAAAAADQE/shhW0oUWUvox7mabz2knokNccW-UDgM7ACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="205"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Nollywood</b><b> </b><b>actor</b><b>, </b><b>Uche</b><b> </b><b>Maduagwu</b><b>, </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>advised</b><b> </b><b>On</b><b> </b><b>Air</b><b> </b><b>Personality</b><b> (</b><b>OAP</b><b>), </b><b>Daddy</b><b> </b><b>Freeze</b><b>, </b><b>who</b><b> </b><b>is</b><b> </b><b>controversial</b><b> </b><b>for</b><b> </b><b>his</b><b> </b><b>stand</b><b> </b><b>on</b><b> </b><b>tithes</b><b>, </b><b>to</b><b> </b><b>first</b><b> </b><b>fix</b><b> </b><b>his</b><b> </b><b>marriage</b><b> with his ex wife and mother of two kids, Opeyemi Olarinde, before </b><b>Nigerians</b><b> </b><b>will</b><b> </b><b>start</b><b> </b><b>taking</b><b> </b><b>him</b><b> </b><b>serious</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">It can be recalled that Opeyemi had called her ex-husband, Freeze a Myopic man while promising to reveal all that transpired in their marriage.</p><p dir="ltr">However, Uche, using his Instagram page, @uchemaduagwu, have asked OAP Freeze to put his energy in solving his personal issue rather than preaching against pastors and tithes.</p><p dir="ltr">He wrote: “Nigerians will #listen to you on tithes, if only you can fix your #marriage with Opeyemi @daddyfreeze</p><p dir="ltr">"Charity they say begins at home, you spend so much time and energy writing against tithe on , but if only you can save just half of this #energy into finding a solution to fixing your marriage, maybe, we can start taking you serious.</p><p dir="ltr">"@daddyfreeze Apostle Suleman is like a #father to me, but you made me laugh when you said you wanted a debate with him, that thought pattern is obviously above your pay grade sir, but of course, even spiritual rascality is allowed in a country like Nigeria.</p><p dir="ltr">“But first things first, work on fixing your marriage with Opeyemi, maybe, Nigerians will start taking you seriously, its just simple and pure logic, you can’t fix our religion, if you are not mature enough to fixing or saving your own marriage.<br><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/1SZ5ur6Pn_0" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/1SZ5ur6Pn_0/nigerians-will-not-take-you-serious.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/nigerians-will-not-take-you-serious.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-8297309919786864870Mon, 13 Nov 2017 10:12:00 +00002017-11-13T11:44:53.028+01:00APCBuharicorruptionGoodluck JonathanNigeriaJonathan replies Waziri: I am proud to have been the President under whom Nigeria made her best improvement in the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6a5gZaUo4WM/Wgl3l3BkdhI/AAAAAAAADQI/Y6G1D40s1qkfjpBS2lubM7gF6t2WMjC-ACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="192"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Nigeria's</b><b> </b><b>former</b><b> </b><b>President</b><b>, </b><b>Goodluck</b><b> </b><b>Jonathan</b><b>, </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>replied</b><b> </b><b>former</b><b> </b><b>Economic</b><b> </b><b>and</b><b> </b><b>Financial</b><b> </b><b>Crimes</b><b> </b><b>Commission</b><b> (</b><b>EFCC</b><b>), Chairperson,&nbsp;</b><b>Mrs</b><b> Farida </b><b>Waziri</b><b>, </b><b>saying</b><b> </b><b>he</b><b> </b><b>was</b><b> proud to have been the President under whom Nigeria made her best improvement in the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency </b><b><u>International</u></b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">It can be recalled that the former EFCC boss have she said at an interactive session in Lagos that she will kneel down to thank former President Goodluck Jonathan for sacking her as the commission’s boss.</p><p dir="ltr">According to Mrs Waziri, had she not been sacked by the ex-President, she would have been traumatized by now, given the ongoing revelation of alleged grand corruption that took place under the last administration.</p><p dir="ltr">However, in a statement by his former Special Assistant on New Media, Reno Omokri, Dr Jonathan said that Farida Waziri has a history of badmouthing former Presidents to enter the good books of the incumbent President.</p><p dir="ltr">“My attention has been drawn to comments made by Farida Waziri to the effect that she was removed as Chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission because of a particular case she was handling.</p><p dir="ltr">“Mrs. Waziri also said that she received a call from Aso Rock over this case which instructed her to drop her investigations.<br>“It is understandable that when there is a new government in power, people would want to ingratiate themselves to the new administration and one of the easiest way to do this is by demonizing the previous government.</p><p dir="ltr">“Nigerians will remember that Mrs. Farida Waziri was appointed as the chairperson of the EFCC by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua in May 2008 under very controversial circumstances after the unceremonious removal of the pioneer Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu.</p><p dir="ltr">“It will be recalled that after she was appointed, Mrs. Farida Waziri made some uncomplimentary remarks against former President Olusegun Obasanjo because he said “I know that the woman they brought in to replace Ribadu (Farida Waziri) was not the right person for that job”.</p><p dir="ltr">“In response to that statement, Mrs. Farida Waziri described ex-President Obasanjo as a man known for “speaking in a manner that betrays his status as an elder statesman”. She also accused President Obasanjo of ‘mischief’.</p><p dir="ltr">“Farida Waziri made those comments to ingratiate herself to the then administration and her accusations against former President Obasanjo were denied.</p><p dir="ltr">“Mrs. Farida Waziri also accused her predecessor, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, of being used by former President Obasanjo “to push the aborted third term agenda”. And claimed to have been Mr. Ribadu’s instructor at the Police Academy.</p><p dir="ltr">“Again, her comments were found to be untrue and Malam Ribadu released a statement then and said as follows;</p><p dir="ltr">“This is a unclad lie that she keeps flaunting to seek undue relevance and validate her own appointment. At no time in my career did I work under the same section or unit as her. In fact, contrary to the Waziri’s claim that she ‘trained’ me, it was I that actually lectured her and others, on fraud investigation and prosecution, when she was newly posted as Head of Special Fraud Unit even though she was my senior in rank.</p><p dir="ltr">“That Mrs. Farida Waziri has a history of telling lies against former Presidents in order to ingratiate herself to the serving President is an established fact and old habits die hard.</p><p dir="ltr">“I never called Farida Waziri from the Aso Rock Presidential Villa or any State House at any given time, neither did he ask her to drop or take up any investigation.</p><p dir="ltr">“Let it be known that there is no statute of limitations on corruption cases and if Mrs. Farida Waziri has any evidence that she was asked to drop any cases of corruption, she is challenged to show proof of such.</p><p dir="ltr">“I fired Mrs. Farida Waziri for reasons he would choose not to disclose publicly for now, but Nigerians may want to remember that Nigeria continued to sink in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perception Index during Mrs. Waziri’s tenure at the EFCC.</p><p dir="ltr">“Things got so bad at her last year at the EFCC (2011) that we moved from 134 in 2010 to 143 in 2011 which represented a backward movement of 9 points. Which God fearing leader would leave a person responsible for such retrogression as the head of a sensitive institution as the EFCC.</p><p dir="ltr">“It would also be recalled that the transparency website, Wikileaks, exposed that both the US Federal Bureau of Investigations and the London Metropolitan Police refuses to cooperate with the EFCC under Farida Waziri because of doubts they had about her credibility. Those Wikileaks cables are still publicly available.</p><p dir="ltr">“However, after the sack of Mrs. Waziri in 2011, Nigeria made her highest improvements in the annual Corruption Perception Index till date in 2014 when we moved eighth places from 144 to 136, so in essence the facts speak for themselves.</p><p dir="ltr">“I am proud to have been the President under whom Nigeria made her best improvement in the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International. That is a fact. And so he is not concerned about the opinion of Farida Waziri or other persons as opinions cannot overthrow facts.”<br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/7BLEdD6QgAU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/7BLEdD6QgAU/jonathan-replies-waziri-i-am-proud-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/jonathan-replies-waziri-i-am-proud-to.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-5247865054200330475Mon, 13 Nov 2017 10:03:00 +00002017-11-13T11:45:20.419+01:00earthquakeIranIraqEarthquake hits Iran and Iraq, hundreds killed<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LPfxbnamFic/Wgl3u-Qt5jI/AAAAAAAADQM/xyHTmjlGsnMUyeQ-ZmPmEfKz72ZKQS4eQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="213"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Over</b><b> </b><b>two</b><b> </b><b>hundred</b><b> </b><b>persons</b><b> </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>been</b><b> </b><b>killed</b><b> </b><b>in</b><b> </b><b>Iran</b><b> </b><b>and</b><b> Iraq </b><b>when</b><b> </b><b>a</b><b> 7.3 </b><b>magnitude</b><b> </b><b>earthquake</b><b> </b><b>struck</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>region</b><b> </b><b>on</b><b> </b><b>Sunday</b><b>, </b><b>state</b><b> </b><b>media</b><b> </b><b>in</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>two</b><b> </b><b>countries</b><b> </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>said</b><b>, </b><b>as</b><b> </b><b>rescue</b><b> </b><b>operations</b><b> </b><b>continue</b><b> </b><b>overnight</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">According to reports, Two hundred and seven people were killed in Iran, Behnam Saeedi, a spokesman for Iran's National Disaster Management Organization, said on the state television. More than 1,700 were injured, he said.<br>Officials expected the death toll to rise when search and rescue teams reached remote areas of Iran.<br>Many houses in rural areas of Iran are made of mud bricks that can crumble easily in a quake.<br>The earthquake was felt in several provinces of Iran but the hardest hit province was Kermanshah, which announced three days of mourning.<br>More than 142 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border.<br>The main hospital of the capital of the county was severely damaged and could not treat hundreds of injured people who were taken there, the head of the Iranian emergency services, Pirhossein Koulivand said.</p><p dir="ltr">The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake measured magnitude 7.3. An Iraqi meteorology official put its magnitude at 6.5 with the epicentre in Penjwin in Sulaimaniyah province in the Kurdistan region close to the main border crossing with Iran.</p><p dir="ltr">Kurdish health officials said at least four people were killed in Iraq and at least 50 injured.</p><p dir="ltr">The quake was felt as far south as Baghdad, where many residents rushed from their houses and tall buildings when tremors shook the Iraqi capital.</p><p dir="ltr">Similar scenes unfolded in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, and across other cities in northern Iraq, close to the quake's epicentre.</p><p dir="ltr">Electricity was cut off in several Iranian and Iraqi cities, and fears of aftershocks sent thousands of people in both countries out onto the streets and parks in cold weather.</p><p dir="ltr">The Iranian seismological centre registered around 50 aftershocks and said more were expected.</p><p dir="ltr">The head of Iranian Red Crescent said more than 70,000 people were in need of emergency shelter.</p><p dir="ltr">Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said some roads were blocked and were worried about casualties in remote villages. The Iranian armed forces have been deployed to help the emergency services.</p><p dir="ltr">An Iranian oil official said pipelines and refineries in the area remained intact.<br>Iran sits astride major fault lines and is prone to frequent tremors. </p><p dir="ltr">A magnitude 6.6 quake on December 26, 2003 devastated the historic city of Bam, 1,000 km southeast of Tehran, killing about 31,000 people.<br><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/gV7QbmfiMHY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/gV7QbmfiMHY/earthquake-hits-iran-and-iraq-hundreds.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/earthquake-hits-iran-and-iraq-hundreds.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-4203029890727797390Mon, 13 Nov 2017 09:50:00 +00002017-11-13T10:53:30.692+01:00Abdullahi GandujeAPCKanoNigeriaGovernor Ganduje spends N208 million to buy noodles, tea, kettles and other things for tea sellers in the state<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y4pRs1a5mEU/WglrGWr7MSI/AAAAAAAADPg/xra3hFGkA5gVwewJMjUZLVTcasAtpPRpACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="240"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Kano</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> </b><b>Governor</b><b>, </b><b>Abdullahi</b><b> </b><b>Ganduje</b><b>, </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>spent</b><b> </b><b>a</b><b> </b><b>whooping</b><b> </b><b>N208</b><b> </b><b>million</b><b> </b><b>in</b><b> </b><b>an</b><b> </b><b>empowerment</b><b> </b><b>programme</b><b> </b><b>for</b><b> </b><b>tea</b><b> </b><b>sellers</b><b> </b><b>otherwise</b><b> </b><b>known</b><b> as </b><b>Masu</b><b> </b><b>Shayi</b><b> </b><b>in</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>state</b><b>, </b><b>according</b><b> </b><b>to</b><b> </b><b>reports</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">While delivering a speech at the empowerment programme held in the state capital, Governor Ganduje, told guests at the ceremony that his administration spent N208 million to buy Noodles, Tea, Kettles, Beverages, liquid and powdered milk, baskets, cups, nylon bags, spaghetti, and other materials needed by the 5,200 Masu Shayi (tea sellers) that were empowered.</p><p dir="ltr">Distributing the items to the beneficiaries drawn from the 44 local government areas in the state, Governor Ganduje said each of them would also receive N40,000 cash as take-off capital.</p><p dir="ltr">“We are empowering 5,200 tea sellers. We are empowering them because we want to increase their economic well-being. We are empowering you to improve the economy of Kano. We are empowering you to improve sanitation in your services; we are empowering you to improve the nutritional value of your services. We are empowering you because of the multiplying effects of this kind of programme.”</p><p dir="ltr">He advised the teachers to keep a high standard of hygiene by always wearing hand gloves while carrying out their trade.</p><p dir="ltr">See photos below.</p><p dir="ltr">-Yabaleft.com</p><p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3FYjqm_4vcU/WglrKdtxwWI/AAAAAAAADPk/eH1Y5Aezx10TXM3sCWlkpI8MIaz96SkGACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="240"><br></p><p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s5y1Fm9lUp4/WglrPjPnqII/AAAAAAAADPo/L-eCq76YRakRkGnuMqg7Qvz_hFM8vo3QQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="240"><br></p><p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F8kDNpMqHM0/WglrUd4sPxI/AAAAAAAADPs/88E-wXqSniYGotiz8Yh6UDT6EAi2sOXsQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="180"><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/9kB7HNTjRyY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/9kB7HNTjRyY/governor-ganduje-spends-n208-million-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/governor-ganduje-spends-n208-million-to.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-8900374839091122445Sun, 12 Nov 2017 18:41:00 +00002017-11-12T19:48:32.361+01:00APCatikuAtiku AbubakarBuhariBuhari newsPDP2019: Members of Atiku Support Group joins PDP<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-77DO_d43mV4/WgiXcHZegqI/AAAAAAAADPM/dvfP8exrtqo4_f7ung1PFJB1eyiBjUZbQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="176"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Members</b><b> </b><b>of</b><b> </b><b>Atiku</b><b> </b><b>Support</b><b> </b><b>Group</b><b> (</b><b>ASG</b><b>) </b><b>nationwide</b><b> </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>decamped</b><b> </b><b>from</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>ruling</b><b> </b><b>All</b><b> </b><b>Progressives</b><b> </b><b>Congress</b><b> (</b><b>APC</b><b>) </b><b>to</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>opposition</b><b> </b><b>People's</b><b> </b><b>Democratic</b><b> </b><b>Party</b><b> (</b><b>PDP</b><b>).</b></p><p dir="ltr">The Director-General Atiku Support Group (ASG), Honorable Mark Wosi, disclosed that the change was inevitable as a result of the irregularities going on in the APC from the state to the national level.</p><p dir="ltr">“APC is not focused; they promised change and an all-inclusive government but what is being obtainable is different; as a group, we felt we are not being carried along.”</p><p dir="ltr">Wosi maintained that the group has decided to go back to the PDP in order to “change the change. I am highly disappointed in the APC. I expected mature, coordinated politics from the ruling party, but I am disappointed,” he said.</p><p dir="ltr">He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari is not a good leader.</p><p dir="ltr">“Buhari is telling people he is fighting corruption, while he is surrounded by the corruption he is claiming to fight. Nigerians are beginning to doubt his integrity, he should be serious at his age,” Wosi said.</p><p dir="ltr">The DG added that, “it is very unfortunate that Nigeria’s hope has been dashed; if things continue like this, we are doomed,” he concluded.<br><br><br><br><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/DEoqQQOu8Uk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/DEoqQQOu8Uk/2019-members-of-atiku-support-group.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/2019-members-of-atiku-support-group.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-466276749769097877Sun, 12 Nov 2017 18:33:00 +00002017-11-12T19:49:32.018+01:00BarcelonaNeymarPSGReports: Neymar regrets joining PSG<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f-nwEKVKJ50/WgiXpkgfGXI/AAAAAAAADPQ/D37N1-i6rpMHnSmondg76GG08FhFM_7TgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="213"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Neymar</b><b> </b><b>is</b><b> </b><b>regretting</b><b> </b><b>his</b><b> </b><b>move</b><b> </b><b>to</b><b> </b><b>PSG</b><b> </b><b>and</b><b> </b><b>he</b><b> </b><b>is</b><b> </b><b>wishing</b><b> </b><b>he</b><b> </b><b>never</b><b> </b><b>moved</b><b>, </b><b>according</b><b> </b><b>to</b><b> </b><b>reports</b><b> </b><b>from</b><b> </b><b>Marca</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">The newspaper, which quotes Brazilian journalist Marcelo Bechler, who reported on his desire to leave Barcelona in the summer, claims that Neymar has already told some of his former Blaugrana teammates, such as Gerard Pique and Luis Suarez, that he wishes he hadn't moved to the French capital.</p><p dir="ltr">Speaking on Onda Cero's 'El Transistor' programme, Bechler also explained that the 25-year-old is struggling to win over the dressing room.</p><p dir="ltr">"There are a lot of high-ranking players in the dressing room, such as [Edinson] Cavani and [Angel] Di Maria, and they have found Neymar's behaviour in these first month strange," he said.</p><p dir="ltr">"The relationship between Neymar and [Unai] Emery is distant, as it is with some players.</p><p dir="ltr">"Yet PSG are clear that anybody else would have to leave before Neymar goes."</p><p dir="ltr">However, the player could move on one day in the future and Bechler suggested that a move to Real Madrid isn't impossible.</p><p dir="ltr">"It would be easier for him to go to Real Madrid than return to Barcelona," he pointed out.</p><p dir="ltr">"[Neymar] wouldn't consider that a betrayal.</p><p dir="ltr">"But right now this is just speculation."<br><br><br><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/iVm136JNk8c" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/iVm136JNk8c/reports-neymar-regrets-joining-psg.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/reports-neymar-regrets-joining-psg.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-3027347786679171334Sun, 12 Nov 2017 15:26:00 +00002017-11-12T16:27:03.664+01:00BenueFulani herdsmenNigeriaNo herdsman committed suicide in Benue, State Government denies death of herdsman<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C2r9Z_4ndK8/WghoQnQu1II/AAAAAAAADOw/GJevZz0Be8okZFXZDbXFN8czmcDOi3WIgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="211"><b><u><br></u></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b><u>The</u></b><b> </b><b>Benue</b><b> </b><b>Government</b><b> </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>denied</b><b> </b><b>reports</b><b> </b><b>of</b><b> </b><b>a</b><b> </b><b>Fulani</b><b> </b><b>herdsman</b><b> </b><b>committing</b><b> </b><b>suicide</b><b>, </b><b>describing</b><b> </b><b>it</b><b> </b><b>as</b><b> false and </b><b>mischievous</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">Earlier, reports have claimed that a 56-year-old <a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/fulani-herdsman-commits-suicide-over.html?m=1">herdsman have committed suicide after he lost 200 of his cows in the state.</a></p><p dir="ltr">However, the state have said it was a propaganda aimed at getting public sympathy by the herders.</p><p dir="ltr">Tever Akase, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom asked the general public to disregard the report.</p><p dir="ltr">We have read in today’s newspaper, the unfounded report credited to one Garus Gololo, who is a member of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Benue State, that a Fulani cattle owner in Logo Local Government Area of the state a few days ago jumped into River Benue over alleged loss of some of his cows.</p><p dir="ltr">“In the same report, Gololo raised alarm that Fulani cattle breeders have already lost over 600 cows in Benue State since the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law came into effect on November 1.</p><p dir="ltr">“This alarm, is the height of falsehood and one in a series of organised blackmail and propaganda by those who are opposed to the ranching law of Benue State.</p><p dir="ltr">“We have contacted the police and other security agencies but there is no confirmation that a Fulani cattle owner jumped into the river in Logo or any other part of Benue state.</p><p dir="ltr">“Similarly, there is no confirmation by security agencies that 600 cows owned by Fulanis are missing.</p><p dir="ltr">“While urging the public to disregard the report, we advise journalists covering Benue State to carry out thorough investigation into sensitive matters of security before publishing their reports. This will reduce unnecessary tension in the society.</p><p dir="ltr">“The Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law was enacted to end frequent invasion of Benue communities and killing of innocent people by herdsmen and the law has been accepted locally and internationally as the best route to peace and stability.</p><p dir="ltr">“Implementation of the law has so far proven that it is indeed the people’s legislation. We thank Benue people and other Nigerians for the support given the government of the state for the success of the law. The Samuel Ortom administration remains committed to the task of guaranteeing the security of lives and property.”</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/Ne--wHzJIQY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/Ne--wHzJIQY/no-herdsman-committed-suicide-in-benue.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/no-herdsman-committed-suicide-in-benue.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-4502287409880484509Sun, 12 Nov 2017 15:09:00 +00002017-11-12T16:11:43.300+01:00BenuedeathFulani herdsmenFulani herdsman commits suicide over the death of his cows<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--vW2eKJmVcA/Wghkp-H_N0I/AAAAAAAADOc/IHSxU8UUMksBrji7qLTEUgtN74Mr-YHGgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="300" height="166"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>A</b> <b>Fulani </b><b>herdsman</b><b> </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>committed</b><b> </b><b>suicide</b><b> </b><b>over</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>death</b><b> </b><b>of</b><b> 200 </b><b>of</b><b> </b><b>his</b><b> </b><b>cows</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">According to the National Coordinator of Miyietti Allah Cattle Breeders <u>Association</u> of Nigeria, Benue State chapter, Garus Gololo, who spoke to newsmen, 56-year-old Mohammed Abdulkadire, jumped into River Benue in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State after his cows died due to hunger and lack of water.</p><p dir="ltr">The Benue State Government had, on November 1, commenced the implementation of its anti-open grazing law, leading to some herdsmen relocating to other states.</p><p dir="ltr">Gololo said since the commencement of the Benue anti-open grazing law, Fulani herdsmen had lost about 600 cows due to poor feeding and inaccessibility to water.<br>He lamented that Abdulkadire, who had 22 children, cried and jumped into the river out of frustration when he discovered that 200 out of his 500 cows had died where they were camped, looking for a means to relocate from Benue State.</p><p dir="ltr">The herdsmen’s leader said, “The man killed himself simply because there is no place for his cows to graze. He was to relocate to the Awe LGA of Nasarawa State but information got to us that the area was occupied and no herdsman or herdsmen should cross over to the area again.</p><p dir="ltr">“We are calling on the Federal Government to intervene to quickly make provision for herdsmen in Benue State before they lose everything they have.”<br><br><br><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/3ks3bxSvZuw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/3ks3bxSvZuw/fulani-herdsman-commits-suicide-over.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/fulani-herdsman-commits-suicide-over.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-6826826501794664982Sun, 12 Nov 2017 14:58:00 +00002017-11-12T16:11:17.420+01:00AbujaBuhariBuhari newsGoodluck JonathanMainaMainagate: You delivered more corruption than change, Jonathan knocks Buhari<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SVfPll8c_x8/WghkkGJa_4I/AAAAAAAADOY/ZdEtOsq2g8wH7W2AQEabYBpVg6p_sbu-ACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="215"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Former Nigerian President, </b><b>Goodluck</b><b> </b><b>Jonathan</b><b>, </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>described</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> reinstatement of Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, former boss of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) as a bold symptom that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government has delivered more corruption than change to Nigerians.</b></p><p dir="ltr">This was in response to an interview by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who stated that Maina is a legacy of former President Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party.</p><p dir="ltr">The APC spokesman was also quoted as having said: “David Mark (former Senate President) declared at a plenary that the then President Goodluck Jonathan should choose between Maina and the National Assembly.”</p><p dir="ltr">However, in a statement issued on his behalf by his former Special Assistant on New Media, Reno Omokri, Jonathan described Abdullahi’s claims as historical a major feature of the dishonest character of the APC has become known for.</p><p dir="ltr">“Rather than living up to its propagandized anti corruption pretensions, the Muhammadu Buhari led APC administration through the current Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, wrote a memo to the Federal Civil Service Commission advising them to reinstate the fugitive Maina.</p><p dir="ltr">"This is an indisputable fact.</p><p dir="ltr">“After this atrocious act by Malami, the Buhari administration recalled Abdulrasheed Maina, reinstated him and gave him double promotion.</p><p dir="ltr">“When Premium Times blew the lid off the scandal, the Maina family gave a press conference where they stated that their son was invited by the Buhari administration to help it deliver on its change agenda.</p><p dir="ltr">“It was also discovered that Abdulrasheed Maina had printed posters to contest to be the next Borno state Governor under the banner of the APC.<br>“More than two weeks after the Maina family press conference, the Buhari administration is yet to deny their assertions.</p><p dir="ltr">“Nigerians may recall that the Maina family threatened that they would ‘expose the cabal in the Presidency’ if they don’t back off Maina.</p><p dir="ltr">“It would also be recalled that Junaid Mohammed revealed that Abdulrasheed Maina was moving about with armed security escorts.</p><p dir="ltr">“Also, after President Buhari denied that he was aware of the Maina affair, his own Head of Service wrote a memo reminding him that she had warned him in person about reinstating Maina BEFORE the act, proving that the President lied.</p><p dir="ltr">“Rather than reward this dutiful public servant, the Buhari administration tried to bully her in an attempt by the President’s Chief of Staff which was caught on camera.</p><p dir="ltr">“So again, I ask Bolaji Abdullahi how Maina can be a legacy of Jonathan and the PDP in view of the above indisputable facts?</p><p dir="ltr">“If at all anybody is a legacy of the PDP, that person is no other than Bolaji Abdullahi himself who was brought to national limelight by the PDP administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan who gave him a ministerial position.</p><p dir="ltr">“He is now spokesman of the APC today, a typical trait of an unprincipled AGIP (Any Government In Power) politician.</p><p dir="ltr">“We are aware that the APC administration is embarrassed by its one day one scandal government.</p><p dir="ltr">“Whether it is Maina, the NNPC $25 billion scam, Babachir grass cutter scam, Amina Mohammed’s $300 million timber scandal, the ₦700 million ministry of mines and steel website, Buratai’s Dubai house, the Ikoyi billions, the budget padding scandal, the missing budget scandal, no paracetamol in State House Clinic scandal, the fact remains that the Buhari administration has delivered more CORRUPTION than CHANGE to the Nigerian people.</p><p dir="ltr">“We therefore ask Bolaji Abdullahi and the APC to keep their beloved Maina and leave former President Jonathan and the PDP out of their love affair with him.”<br><br><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/skBdOZJm2Gs" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/skBdOZJm2Gs/mainagate-you-delivered-more-corruption.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/mainagate-you-delivered-more-corruption.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-4414149692815934693Sun, 12 Nov 2017 14:50:00 +00002017-11-12T16:10:52.095+01:00Jacob ZumaRochasRochas OkorochaSERAPInvestigate Rochas for spending N1 billion, SERAP petitions EFCC and others<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oPGJa30gFm8/WghkdtixmSI/AAAAAAAADOU/z5sOUx5SZq02YqSbfpaP2rzy2ePsRk2GwCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="194"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>An</b><b> </b><b>organization</b><b>, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) </b><b>have</b><b> petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), </b><b>the</b><b> Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), </b><b>asking</b><b> </b><b>them</b><b> </b><b>to</b><b> </b><b>investigate</b><b> </b><b>Imo</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> </b><b>Governor</b><b>, </b><b>Rochas</b><b> </b><b>Okorocha</b><b> </b><b>for</b><b> </b><b>abuse</b><b> </b><b>of</b><b> </b><b>office</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">The organization alleges that the Imo state governor may have spent over one billion naira on the two statues of South Africa president, Jacob Zuma, and Liberian president, Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.</p><p dir="ltr">The organization said that such investigation would help to improve public confidence in public authorities, and minimize the risks of bad government by public officials.</p><p dir="ltr">In the petition dated 10 November 2017 and released on Sunday, SERAP executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni said the organization was concerned that Okorocha may have spent over N1billion of public funds to build statues of South African President, Jacob Zuma and Liberian President, Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.”</p><p dir="ltr">According to the organization, “the spending on statues and apparent misuse of public resources may have violated constitutional provisions and international standards on code of conduct for public officers. The initiatives cannot be justified under any circumstances whatsoever, especially at a time when Imo state is unable or unwilling to pay teachers’ salaries and pensioners’ entitlements.”</p><p dir="ltr">The petition reads in part: “Inviting Zuma and Johnson-Sirleaf to attend the opening of his Foundation and then ‘honouring’ them with statues suggests abuse of office and apparent conflict of interest situation, as such acts were undertaken by Governor Okorocha in the exercise of his public functions to presumably promote and advance the commercial and other interests of the Foundation.”</p><p dir="ltr">“SERAP believes that rather than serving the common interest of the public, spending over N1 billion possibly of public funds on Zuma and Johnson-Sirleaf in the context of their participation in the opening of the Rochas Okorocha Foundation would seem to put Governor Okorocha in a conflict of interest situation.”</p><p dir="ltr">“SERAP notes that the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party prohibit conflict of interests and set ethical standards for public officers. Indeed, both the Constitution and the Convention require public officers to abstain from all acts that may compromise the exercise of their public office and functions, or are inconsistent with their entrusted positions.”</p><p dir="ltr">“Public officers also must discharge their public duties truthfully and faithfully, abide by the constitutional code of conduct, observe the primacy of public interest, and not allow their personal interest to influence their official conduct.”</p><p dir="ltr">“The CCB and ICPC should carry out joint investigation in collaboration with the EFCC of the allegations of conflict of interest, abuse of office and apparent misuse of public funds by Governor Okorocha. SERAP also urges the CCB and ICPC to prosecute Governor Okorocha after leaving office if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence of abuse of public office against him.”</p><p dir="ltr">“Conflict of interest represents a situation where the person exercising a public function has a personal interest of patrimonial or commercial nature, which could influence the objective fulfilment of the duties incumbent on public officers under the Constitution and international standards.”</p><p dir="ltr">“Conflict of interest arises from a situation in which a public official has a private interest which is such as to influence or appear to influence the impartial and objective nature of his or her official duties in order to promote private interests, which would be contrary to the public interest.”</p><p dir="ltr">“According to reports, Governor Okorocha recently hosted two African presidents—South African President Jacob Zuma and Liberian President Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and built statues in Owerri to ‘honour’ them. The statues reportedly cost over N1 billion to build.</p><p dir="ltr">Further, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Zuma Foundation and the Rochas Foundation was signed, while Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf visited the newly established Rochas Foundation College of Africa (ROFOCA).”<br><br></p><p dir="ltr">&nbsp; </p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/JryWYM7ZMRg" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/JryWYM7ZMRg/investigate-rochas-for-spending-n1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/investigate-rochas-for-spending-n1.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-3793812333961784298Sat, 11 Nov 2017 12:20:00 +00002017-11-11T13:23:08.578+01:00Nigeria Police Forcerankingworst police forceWe are the best, Nigeria Police dimisses ranking<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xrfE9Wx6buc/Wgbrnua1FsI/AAAAAAAADOE/-kHv6prwO4A9zo9EM3FjuYsxyR-hVKjJQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="180"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>The</b><b> </b><b>Nigeria</b><b> </b><b>Police</b><b> </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>rejected</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>ranking</b><b> </b><b>released</b><b> </b><b>by</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> 2016 </b><b>World</b><b> </b><b>Internal</b><b> </b><b>Security</b><b> </b><b>and</b><b> </b><b>Police</b><b> </b><b>Index</b><b> (</b><b>WISPI</b><b>) </b><b>and</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>International</b><b> </b><b>Police</b><b> </b><b>Science</b><b> </b><b>Association</b><b> (</b><b>IPSA</b><b>) </b><b>that</b><b> </b><b>ranked</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>nation's</b><b> </b><b>crime</b><b> </b><b>fighting</b><b> </b><b>agency</b><b> </b><b>as</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>worst</b><b> </b><b>in</b><b> </b><b>Africa</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, insisted that the Nigerian Police is the best in Africa.</p><p dir="ltr">“Nigeria Police Force is the best in UN <u>Peace</u> Keeping Operations, the best in Africa, one of the best in the world. The Force rejects the report as unempirical and absolute falsehood, should be disregarded and discountenanced,” Moshood said in the statement.</p><p dir="ltr">He said the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has assured Nigerians and International Community and Stakeholders of Policing with integrity and international core values and world best practices.</p><p dir="ltr">It can be recalled that report claims that it measured and ranked the different police <a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/nigeria-police-force-ranked-worst-in.html?m=1">agencies by the ability of the police to address internal security issues in 127 countries in four key areas of capacity, process, legitimacy, and outcomes.</a></p><p dir="ltr">However, the Nigeria Police said after a careful study of the report and the news items emanating from it, it discovers that the report is misleading, adding that the report did not consider various training and re-training that the force has been empowered with by both local and foreign organisations.</p><p dir="ltr">“The report did not take into cognisance the significant improvement in the areas of capacity building, training and re-training of the entire personnel of the Force as provided for by the current Federal Government of Nigeria and other foreign and local NGOs which has greatly improved the efficiency and service delivery of the personnel of the Force throughout the country,” he said.</p><p dir="ltr">The statement added that the instrument used to evaluate the performance of the Nigeria police force in comparison to that of other countries is inadequate and the Nigeria Police Force currently ranks as the best UN peacekeeping operations in the world.</p><p dir="ltr">“It is pertinent to state that the instruments used to evaluate the performance of the Force vis-à-vis that of other countries is absolutely incorrect and grossly inadequate and therefore a plain distortion of facts and figures. The strength of about 370,000 Police Personnel in the country stands at around one policeman to less than 600 people in population estimates of 180,000,000 Nigerians.</p><p dir="ltr">“In the UN Peace Keeping System, the Nigeria Police Force is rated as the best in UN Peacekeeping operations in the world. This clearly shows that the Nigeria Police Force is not and cannot be the worst in the world under any known scientific yardstick or measuring instrument,” he&nbsp;said.</p><p dir="ltr">The police spokesperson also said that the Nigeria Police Force is one of the only two African delegates representing the whole of Africa continent on the executive committee of Interpol, a position the Force attained based on high performance and sustained good track records, hence it is inaccurate to describe it as the worst in the world.<br><br><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/yDrtdXhYYGU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/yDrtdXhYYGU/we-are-best-nigeria-police-dimisses.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/we-are-best-nigeria-police-dimisses.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-7490856205477679884Fri, 10 Nov 2017 14:37:00 +00002017-11-10T15:59:53.080+01:00EverettprostituteUSWashingtonProstitute shots man twice in his head for performing oral sex wrongly<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SC9CK6MvJxw/WgW-4OEJwUI/AAAAAAAADN0/Nz0u4Yq6b-0MbsmMROFXqQTsA4dv5zP8ACHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="269" height="320"><b><u><br></u></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b><u>A</u></b><b> </b><b>prostitute</b><b> </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>allegedly</b><b> </b><b>shoot</b><b> </b><b>a</b><b> </b><b>man</b><b> </b><b>twice</b><b> </b><b>in</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>head</b><b> </b><b>for</b><b> </b><b>performing</b><b> </b><b>oealswz</b><b> </b><b>on</b><b> </b><b>her</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>wrong</b><b> </b><b>way</b><b> </b><b>and</b><b> </b><b>she</b><b> </b><b>didn't</b><b> </b><b>know</b><b> </b><b>how</b><b> </b><b>to</b><b> </b><b>tell</b><b> </b><b>him</b><b>, </b><b>according</b><b> to </b><b>the</b><b> </b><i><b>Daily</b></i><i><b> </b></i><i><b>Mail</b></i><i><b>.</b></i></p><p dir="ltr">The 36-year-old man miraculously survived after the attack in his home in Everett, Washington, on October 24.</p><p dir="ltr">Police have since arrested Marissa Wallen, a 21-year-old escort who they say had been at his house several times.<br>She wept as she appeared in court to face charges on Thursday.</p><p dir="ltr"><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/p/download-our-android-app.html">&gt;&gt;</a></b><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/p/download-our-android-app.html">DOWNLOAD</a></b><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/p/download-our-android-app.html"> </a></b><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/p/download-our-android-app.html">OUR</a></b><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/p/download-our-android-app.html"> </a></b><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/p/download-our-android-app.html">ANDROID</a></b><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/p/download-our-android-app.html"> </a></b><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/p/download-our-android-app.html">APP</a></b><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/p/download-our-android-app.html"> </a></b><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/p/download-our-android-app.html">HERE</a></b><b><a href="http://www.merifeblog.tk/p/download-our-android-app.html">&lt;&lt;</a></b></p><p dir="ltr">A probable cause document filed by police for the woman’s arrest said she was an ’emotionless, cold and calculating’ escort.</p><p dir="ltr">‘In the end she said that she shot (the victim) two times in the head because he was preforming oral sex wrong and she did not know how to tell him that,’ the document reads, according to My Everett News in Washington.<br><br><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/dbIZMtnpHUY" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/dbIZMtnpHUY/prostitute-shots-man-twice-in-his-head.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/prostitute-shots-man-twice-in-his-head.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-7216978082269846897Fri, 10 Nov 2017 11:56:00 +00002017-11-10T12:58:44.014+01:00global rankingNigeria Police Forceworst police forceNigeria Police Force ranked worst in Africa in new global report<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QXqNIW_JFWg/WgWUXklP1MI/AAAAAAAADNk/74JIaMjldTIvAe0MRjBBUGCT3V53dmctgCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="180"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Nigeria</b><b> </b><b>Police</b><b> </b><b>Force</b><b> (</b><b>NPF</b><b>) </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>been</b><b> </b><b>ranked</b><b>, </b><b>unsurprisedly</b><b>, </b><b>as&nbsp;</b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>worst</b><b> </b><b>in</b><b> </b><b>Africa</b><b>, </b><b>with</b><b> </b><b>Botswana's</b><b> </b><b>Police</b><b> </b><b>ranked</b><b> </b><b>first</b><b> </b><b>in</b><b> </b><b>Africa</b><b>, </b><b>though</b><b> </b><b>they</b><b> </b><b>are</b><b> </b><b>ranked</b><b> 47th </b><b>in</b><b> </b><b>the</b><b> </b><b>world</b><b>.</b></p><p dir="ltr">This ranking was done by the World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI) and released by these two bodies, the International Police Science Association (IPSA) and the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).</p><p dir="ltr">The index ranked the Rwandan police as Africa’s second best (with global position of 50th) followed by Algeria (58th), Senegal (68th) and Tunisia (72nd) in that order. Completing the top 10 for Africa were, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Ghana, South Africa and Mali respectively.</p><p dir="ltr">“WISPI measures the ability of the police and other security providers to address internal security issues in 127 countries, across four domains, using sixteen indicators,” authors of the report stated. The four domains are, capacity, process, legitimacy and outcomes.</p><p dir="ltr">Despite the failure of Africa to break into the top forty, the continent was very prominent in the lower rankings. Six African countries were in the bottom 10. Cameroon and Mozambique in the 120th and 122nd spots.</p><p dir="ltr">Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Nigeria made it an African quartet at the bottom – occupying 124th to 127 slots respectively.</p><p dir="ltr">At the top of the global rankings, Europe dominated with eight countries. </p><p dir="ltr">Except first place Singapore and Australia in sixth spot, all the other countries were in Europe – Finland, Denmark, Austria, Germany (2nd – 5th), Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland (7th – 10th).</p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/PjEY1j9Qw9k" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/PjEY1j9Qw9k/nigeria-police-force-ranked-worst-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/nigeria-police-force-ranked-worst-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2863788286217360793.post-6526989571971349324Fri, 10 Nov 2017 10:22:00 +00002017-11-10T11:58:38.074+01:00BuhariBuhari newsDave UmahiGovernor Umahi backs Buhari for second tenure<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5kTmtNHbmpU/WgWGV-dVUFI/AAAAAAAADNU/OjyLqfzG9xQmeiQniI5rCp69J01QHUcoQCHMYCw/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="172"><b><br></b></p><p dir="ltr"><b>Ebonyi</b><b> </b><b>State</b><b> </b><b>Governor</b><b>, </b><b>David</b><b> </b><b>Umahi</b><b>, </b><b>have</b><b> </b><b>backed</b><b> </b><b>President</b><b> </b><b>Muhammadu</b><b> </b><b>Buhari</b><b> </b><b>to</b><b> </b><b>recontest</b><b> </b><b>in</b><b> 2019.</b></p><p dir="ltr">Governor Umahi, a member of the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP), made this known to State House Correspondents after meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.</p><p dir="ltr">“Since Mr President is doing his first term and I am doing my first term, it’s my wish to re-contest. So, I will as well wish Mr President the same – to re-contest,” he said.<br><br><br><br><br><br></p><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~4/GNCOT6G3m6o" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/merifeblog/MkXw/~3/GNCOT6G3m6o/governor-umahi-backs-buhari-for-second.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Merife Obinna)0http://www.merifeblog.tk/2017/11/governor-umahi-backs-buhari-for-second.html